BACKGROUND: Medical students enter the clinical education years with minimal exposure to procedural skills. This study aims to determine the effect of a pre-clinical skills course on students' ratings of proficiency, confidence, and anxiety levels. METHODS: An elective pre-clinical course in procedural skills was given to medical students prior to clinical rotations. Self-assessment of proficiency, confidence, and anxiety in performing these skills was made prior to and on completion of the course. RESULTS: Course participants reported low proficiency and confidence, and high anxiety regarding performing procedural skills. Following the course, there was significant improvement in self-assessed proficiency, confidence, and anxiety. There were no gender differences in responses. CONCLUSIONS: Medical students entering clinical rotations have poor self-assessment of proficiency, low confidence, and high anxiety regarding procedural skills. A concentrated course in procedural skills significantly improved students' assessment of their proficiency, confidence, and anxiety levels.
BACKGROUND: Medical students enter the clinical education years with minimal exposure to procedural skills. This study aims to determine the effect of a pre-clinical skills course on students' ratings of proficiency, confidence, and anxiety levels. METHODS: An elective pre-clinical course in procedural skills was given to medical students prior to clinical rotations. Self-assessment of proficiency, confidence, and anxiety in performing these skills was made prior to and on completion of the course. RESULTS: Course participants reported low proficiency and confidence, and high anxiety regarding performing procedural skills. Following the course, there was significant improvement in self-assessed proficiency, confidence, and anxiety. There were no gender differences in responses. CONCLUSIONS: Medical students entering clinical rotations have poor self-assessment of proficiency, low confidence, and high anxiety regarding procedural skills. A concentrated course in procedural skills significantly improved students' assessment of their proficiency, confidence, and anxiety levels.
Authors: P F McAnena; N O'Halloran; B M Moloney; D Courtney; R M Waldron; G Flaherty; M J Kerin Journal: Ir J Med Sci Date: 2017-10-17 Impact factor: 1.568
Authors: Edward P Manning; Priti L Mishall; Maxwell D Weidmann; Herschel Flax; Sam Lan; Mark Erlich; William B Burton; Todd R Olson; Sherry A Downie Journal: Anat Sci Educ Date: 2018-03-30 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Robert M Maweni; Robert W Foley; Micol Lupi; Amy Woods; Shahram Shirazi; Vaughan Holm; Stella Vig Journal: Ir J Med Sci Date: 2018-10-29 Impact factor: 1.568
Authors: Laura Thompson; Matthew Exline; Cynthia G Leung; David P Way; Daniel Clinchot; David P Bahner; Sorabh Khandelwal Journal: Med Educ Online Date: 2016-05-23