Learning from listening: Introduction of Community Based Participatory Research methods to medical students

Background: Qualitative research methods are unpopular among medical graduates. Quantitative surveys followed by exploring issues with the community by participatory research methods will facilitate health providers in educating the community against any misconceptions that exist in the community related to illnesses.

Methods: Third-year medical graduates were taught regarding participatory research in their community diagnosis training. With a prior introduction, supervision and guidance under faculty members, students carried out a body mapping exercise among villagers of Katrambakkam in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Female groups which consisted of seven people had drawn body map along with symptoms in the sequence of commonality and severity of symptoms.

Results: The body map drawn for diabetes mellitus and hypertension showed that among these villagers, knowledge and understanding towards diabetes was higher when compared to hypertension. Training of medical graduates in these kinds of participatory exercises will help in providing context- specific interventions in the community.