Knowledge and Attitude of 2nd Year Medical Students Regarding Post Mortem Examination: A Comparative Study of Two Medical Colleges Situated at Rajasthan
Brijesh Tatwal Post Graduate Student, Department of Forensic Medicine, Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar, Rajasthan, India
Amit Joshi Sr. Specialist, Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Kota, Rajasthan, India
Sachin Kumar Meena Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Kota, Rajasthan, India
Sanjay Kumar Jain Sr. Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar, Rajasthan, India
Ashok Moondra Sr. Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Government Medical College, Kota, Rajasthan, India
Address for correspondence: Sachin Kumar Meena, Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Kota, Rajasthan, India E-mail: drsachinmeena@gmail.com
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Tatwal B, Joshi A, Meena SK, et al. Knowledge and Attitude of 2nd Year Medical Students Regarding Post Mortem Examination: A Comparative Study of Two Medical Colleges Situated at Rajasthan. Indian J Forensic Med Pathol. 2025;18(2):111-118.
Timeline
Received : April 08, 2025
Accepted : June 05, 2025
Published : June 20, 2025
Abstract
Context: Autopsy or necropsy means, postmortem examination of a dead body. Post mortem examination is a process which is required to establish the exact cause of death in sudden, suspicious or unnatural cases. In each and every suspicious case, in which police or magistrate needed a complete autopsy is necessary to substantiate the truth of the evidence of eyewitnesses. There are aim and objectives of a autopsy. It determines the mode, manner and time passed since death. In India postmortem examination used to be conducted by graduate doctors. As per New NMC guidelines the undergraduate will be called as IMG (Indian medical Graduate). As per Competency Based Medical Education (CBME) curriculum for undergraduates provided by National Medical Commission (NMC), autopsy is suggestive teaching learning method with autopsy is also a competency. The present comparison was conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude of medical undergraduate students of two medical colleges towards post-mortem as these traits will influence the quality of autopsy reports being prepared by them in their professional careers. It is very important that the emotions of the students have to be considered while training medical students but unfortunately it is bit neglected since the inception of medical curriculum. These days curriculum also emphasis only on clinical aspect. Material & Method: it is questionnaire-based study. Study was carried out on second year undergraduate medical students of two medical colleges situated at Rajasthan, GMC, Kota & Jhalawar Medical College, Kota. Questionnaires to be answered, were administered to the participating medical students in Google form. Statistical analysis used: For compilation of data, tabulate formation prepared one by one. 162 students of first medical college and 46 students of second medical college took part in the study.
Conclusion & Results: The undergraduate medical students should be encouraged to observe more autopsies during their study course. Problem-based learning during practical training of autopsy must be incorporated, as a part of the medical curriculum and instead of elective, compulsory rotatory internship training should be there for Forensic Medicine.
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Tatwal B, Joshi A, Meena SK, et al. Knowledge and Attitude of 2nd Year Medical Students Regarding Post Mortem Examination: A Comparative Study of Two Medical Colleges Situated at Rajasthan. Indian J Forensic Med Pathol. 2025;18(2):111-118.
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
Description: A total of 162 undergraduate medical students of GMC, Kota and 46 Students of Jhalawar Medical College were the part of the study. Out of the 162 students 75.3% students & and 67.4% of other medical college replied that in all unnatural cases postmortem is required. Rest said it is not essential to conduct a postmortem examination in all unnatural cases. (Table 1).
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Description: (Table 2) Virtual autopsy is a new form of post mortem examination it was the third question in reply of this question 88.3% students of GMC Kota, said yes and 3.7% replied that it is not the new form of pm examination. 7.4% students did not anything about the virtual autopsy, however out of 46 students 77.8% students of Jhalawar medical college said that radiological x-ray and Ct scan is virtual autopsy and 20% students don’t know about virtual autopsy.
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Description: (Table 3) Whether we have to collect viscera in each and every case during pm it was the question no 4, 66.9% students of GMC Kota replied that each and every case there is no need to collect the viscera, may be the answer given by 12.3% students and 17.8% students said yes for the viscera preservation in each and every case however students from Jhalawar Medical college which were 46 out of that 55.3%
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Description: Whether we have to collect viscera in each and every case during pm it was the question no 4, 66.9% students of GMC Kota replied that each and every case there is no need to collect the viscera, may be the answer given by 12.3% students and 17.8% students said yes for the viscera preservation in each and every case however students from Jhalawar Medical college which were 46 out of that 55.3% said no
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Description: 65.4% students replied that stomach, liver spleen and kidney preserved for the chemical analysis question was asked For Chemical analysis which organs are preserved, 27.3% students replied that stomach, liver and kidney preserved, in this question maximum variability observed, as far as concern to other medical college students, 58.7% were with 65.4% students. But 39.1% students said that all organs including hollow organ should preserved for chemical analysis. (Table 5).
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Description: Next question was where sample for Chemical analysis should sent, 59.5% students give correct answer that was FSL and 30.8% students said that both FSL and pathology dept we can send the sample, 8.6% students replied that sample for chemical analysis use to send at dept of pathology. In comparsion with other college that is Jhalawar Medical college, 60% students said that FSL sample of viscera should sent, 24.4% said both FSL and pathology dept we can send the sample, (Table 6).
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Description: Question 7 was that what sample collected for histopathology, most of the students replied that depends upon the disease and observation sample for histopathology used to be collected answer was given by 95.1% students. 63% Students of Jhalawar medical college replied that depends upon the disease, 28.3% don’t know about it (Table 7).
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Description: Question no 8 was that whether they know which preservatives are used for collection of viscera samples and 171.6% Students of GMC, Kota and 37% replied that it is saturated salt solution, 23.6% students of GMC, Kota and 34.7% replied formalin 3% students from first medical college said it is salt water (Table 8)
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Description: (Table 9) Next question no 10 is Do you think post mortem examination is harassment to victim’s family and 93.8% students and 93.5% respective medical college said no, rest said yes.