Cynthia L Alford1, Donald M Currie. 1. Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas, Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA. alford@uthscsa.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A new clinical experience was developed in which 1st-year medical students (MS1s) shadowed 3rd-year medical students (MS3s) as they performed their usual clerkship duties for 6 half-days, 1 in each clerkship. Researchers wanted to determine whether this was a worthwhile experience for MS1s and what they learned. DESCRIPTION: MS1s documented their experiences shadowing MS3s in confidential responses to open-ended questions on a course Web site. Researchers conducted a qualitative analysis of student comments. EVALUATION: The analysis showed the students to be perceptive, thoughtful observers and yielded 5 broad categories of learning. Students learned about the practice of medicine, the process of becoming a doctor, providers of health care, the nature of real patients, and the procedures of medicine. Students rated the experience as "excellent." CONCLUSION: Shadowing an MS3 in clinical settings is a beneficial and valued learning experience for beginning medical students.
BACKGROUND: A new clinical experience was developed in which 1st-year medical students (MS1s) shadowed 3rd-year medical students (MS3s) as they performed their usual clerkship duties for 6 half-days, 1 in each clerkship. Researchers wanted to determine whether this was a worthwhile experience for MS1s and what they learned. DESCRIPTION: MS1s documented their experiences shadowing MS3s in confidential responses to open-ended questions on a course Web site. Researchers conducted a qualitative analysis of student comments. EVALUATION: The analysis showed the students to be perceptive, thoughtful observers and yielded 5 broad categories of learning. Students learned about the practice of medicine, the process of becoming a doctor, providers of health care, the nature of real patients, and the procedures of medicine. Students rated the experience as "excellent." CONCLUSION: Shadowing an MS3 in clinical settings is a beneficial and valued learning experience for beginning medical students.
Authors: Markus Krautter; Sven Andreesen; Nadja Köhl-Hackert; Katja Hoffmann; Wolfgang Herzog; Christoph Nikendei Journal: Adv Med Educ Pract Date: 2014-09-23
Authors: Nadja Köhl-Hackert; Markus Krautter; Sven Andreesen; Katja Hoffmann; Wolfgang Herzog; Jana Jünger; Christoph Nikendei Journal: GMS Z Med Ausbild Date: 2014-11-17