Table 1 Typical student comments towards ECE in learning endocrine physiology

Understanding of endocrine physiology:

"helped us develop a better understanding of the subject"

"seeing the classical features in patients helped in understanding the subject deeper"

"we could understand well instead of just memorizing causes and symptoms of disease"

"made the concepts clear"

Acquiring knowledge:

" many things which we would have overlooked were brought to our notice in the case based lecture, normal values and especially treatment"

"helped for the test"

"the MRI scan showing the tumours in various locations re-enforced our knowledge"

"seeing the patients make things stay much longer in your memory"

Integration of knowledge:

"we were able to relate what we saw with what we had read"

"it was a nice class where we could integrate our knowledge"

"clinical cases helped us to relate to the subject"

"I understood how to apply physiology"

Development of interest:

"made theory come alive literally"

"was interesting because it broke the monotony of 'by-hearting' symptoms and signs"

"It is interesting to see the things we read in textbooks"

"it really really did... made me feel like a doc"

Motivation to read:

"practical exposure to patients gave us more interest to go and read up that day"

"seeing the patients motivated us to read more about what we didn't know"

"I really held a great interest towards my textbook after the visit"

"case based lectures were motivating and informative"

Development of sensitivity towards patient problems and needs:

"made us more sensitive toward them as we actually saw their plight"

"helped me realise how much trouble each disease causes and be sensitive to the patients"

"yes, the hospital visit helped....especially the patient with Cushing's syndrome"

"helped to see how difficult these diseases are for the patient"

What they liked:

"It was something like a play-way-method of learning"

"We learnt more about clinical applications than we otherwise would have"

"seeing cases about which we can only read"

"good case studies"

"made learning interesting"

"why we are studying physiology was clear"