Preamble to the AETCOM Modules of MBBS as per NMC
The National Medical Commission (NMC) recognizes that producing a competent doctor requires more than clinical knowledge and procedural skills. Professional attitudes, ethical reasoning, and effective communication form the foundation of trust, empathy, and accountability in medical practice. Through the AETCOM (Attitude, Ethics, and Communication) framework, the NMC has mandated structured learning across all phases of undergraduate medical education.
While institutions are expected to deliver AETCOM training using internal faculty, many colleges face challenges related to subject expertise, standardisation, faculty workload, and longitudinal assessment. There is a growing need for high-quality, uniform, and scalable learning resources that complement institutional teaching while remaining fully aligned with the NMC curriculum.
shikshaX addresses this need through LMS-based, micro-learning AETCOM modules designed for flexibility, reflection, and real-world relevance. Delivered through short, focused learning units, these modules integrate case scenarios, ethical dilemmas, communication simulations, and reflective exercises that support phased learning and certification. The micro-learning model allows seamless integration with institutional schedules, ensuring that students achieve mandated competencies while institutions maintain curriculum compliance, quality assurance, and documentation for accreditation purposes.
AETCOM Components
YEAR 1 – Core Foundations of AETCOM
This module introduces students to the professional identity of a doctor beyond biomedical knowledge. It emphasizes values such as compassion, accountability, and ethical responsibility from the very beginning of training. Through microlearning case narratives, reflective prompts, and scenario-based discussions, shikshaX enables learners to internalize professional roles at their own pace, fostering early formation of ethical judgement and humane medical practice.
Understanding illness from the patient’s perspective is central to ethical care. This module sensitizes students to patient expectations, vulnerability, and emotional experiences. shikshaX delivers authentic learning through patient stories, empathy simulations, and guided reflections, allowing students to pause, reflect, and revisit concepts. The self-paced format supports deeper emotional engagement, essential for developing patient-centred attitudes early in medical education.
This module focuses on trust, respect, and communication as the foundation of effective clinical relationships. Students learn how words, behaviour, and attitudes influence patient outcomes. Through short interactive scenarios, simulated consultations, and reflective checkpoints, shikshaX provides a safe environment to practice respectful communication, helping learners build confidence and professionalism before entering real clinical settings.
Effective communication is a clinical skill that requires structured learning and practice. This module introduces active listening, questioning techniques, and recognition of communication barriers. shikshaX’s microlearning approach breaks complex interactions into manageable units, enabling repeated practice through simulations and self-assessment. Learners progress at their own pace while building essential skills required for patient interviews and counselling.
This module instils respect, gratitude, and ethical conduct in the anatomy learning environment. It reinforces professionalism in handling human remains and acknowledges the donor’s contribution to medical education. shikshaX delivers this sensitive content through reflective narratives, ethical discussions, and guided self-reflection, allowing students to meaningfully engage with professional values beyond the physical laboratory.
YEAR 2 – Ethics, Communication & Teamwork in Practice
Building on earlier skills, this module deepens verbal and non-verbal communication competence in clinical contexts. Students learn how tone, posture, and listening impact diagnostic accuracy and patient trust. shikshaX offers microlearning simulations and feedback-driven activities that allow learners to repeatedly observe, reflect, and improve communication behaviours in a self-directed, low-pressure learning environment.
This module introduces core ethical principles—autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice—and their relevance in everyday clinical decisions. Through short case-based units, ethical dilemmas, and reflective questioning, shikshaX enables learners to actively apply ethical reasoning. The LMS format supports independent exploration while ensuring alignment with NMC-mandated ethical competencies.
This module emphasizes healthcare equity, justice, and patient rights within the Indian health system. Students explore social determinants of health and professional responsibilities toward vulnerable populations. shikshaX delivers this content using real-world case vignettes and reflective learning tasks, allowing learners to connect ethical theory with societal realities at their own pace.
Safe healthcare depends on collaboration and mutual respect among professionals. This module introduces interprofessional roles, teamwork principles, and conflict resolution. shikshaX uses scenario-based microlearning and reflective exercises to help learners understand team dynamics, practise respectful collaboration, and develop professional behaviours essential for modern healthcare delivery.
This module deepens understanding of consent, autonomy, and shared decision-making. Students explore ethical tensions between patient choice and clinical judgement. shikshaX supports learning through structured ethical frameworks, case discussions, and self-assessment activities, allowing learners to practise ethical reasoning repeatedly and confidently before real clinical exposure.
These modules apply ethical principles to complex real-life scenarios such as refusal of care, withdrawal of support, and consent dilemmas. shikshaX’s case-based microlearning allows learners to analyse situations, justify decisions, and reflect on outcomes independently. This approach strengthens ethical confidence and prepares students for emotionally challenging clinical encounters.
This module explores the role of families in illness, caregiving, and recovery. Students learn empathetic communication and support strategies for caregivers. shikshaX uses narrative-driven learning and reflective checkpoints to help learners appreciate family dynamics, fostering compassion, sensitivity, and professionalism in patient–family interactions.
YEAR 3 – Advanced Communication & Ethical Responsibility
This module refines advanced interviewing, reflective listening, and structured communication skills. shikshaX provides authentic learning through simulated consultations and self-evaluation tools, enabling learners to practise nuanced communication required in complex clinical situations while progressing at their own pace.
This module addresses accountability, transparency, and learning from medical errors. shikshaX uses real-world scenarios and reflective exercises to help learners understand disclosure, prevention, and professional responsibility, reinforcing a culture of patient safety and ethical practice.
Focused on difficult conversations such as breaking bad news and managing conflict, this module prepares students for emotionally charged interactions. shikshaX’s microlearning simulations allow repeated practice, reflection, and confidence-building in a safe, self-paced environment.
This module emphasizes patient privacy, data protection, and ethical information sharing. shikshaX enables learners to explore confidentiality dilemmas through interactive cases, reinforcing trust, legal awareness, and professional accountability in both physical and digital healthcare settings.
This module reinforces the doctor’s obligation to act in the patient’s best interest. shikshaX supports ethical reasoning through scenario-based learning and reflection, helping learners internalize trust, stewardship, and advocacy as core professional responsibilities.
YEAR 4 – Complex Ethics & Professional Accountability
This module addresses complex clinical communication including consent, prognosis, and emotionally distressed patients. shikshaX provides structured microlearning simulations that allow learners to practise clarity, empathy, and professionalism in high-stakes clinical conversations.
These modules apply ethical principles to specialty-specific contexts such as obstetrics and internal medicine. shikshaX uses discipline-relevant case scenarios to strengthen medico-legal awareness and ethical decision-making in complex clinical environments.
This module reinforces trust, boundaries, and empathy in long-term clinical relationships. shikshaX enables reflective learning through narratives and self-assessment tools that support professional maturity and patient-centred care.
This module addresses conflicts of interest and professional integrity. shikshaX supports ethical clarity through policy-aligned microlearning units that promote transparency and unbiased clinical judgement.
This module explores refusal of care, surrogate decision-making, and shared responsibility. shikshaX’s case-based approach helps learners practise ethical negotiation and documentation skills essential for safe practice.
This module prepares learners for end-of-life care, grief communication, and ethical dying. shikshaX delivers this sensitive content through reflective microlearning, supporting emotional preparedness and compassionate practice.
This module builds awareness of duty of care, risk management, and legal accountability. shikshaX integrates medico-legal cases and reflective learning to promote patient safety and professional responsibility.
This module consolidates consent, capacity assessment, and advanced communication. shikshaX provides structured simulations and self-paced practice to ensure ethical, clear, and legally sound clinical communication.