Study skills instruction in medical school.

Effective study skills are an essential component of medical education. Following analysis of current study habits of students attending the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) a brief study skills course was developed for premedical students. Course evaluation indicated that instructed students reported more positive study habits one year later than did those without such instruction: a greater number of instructed students reported taking detailed notes during lectures (56 vs 32%) and starting to revise early in term (28% vs 11%) while fewer of these students routinely used the notes of other students after lectures (2 vs 10%) or as study material (0 vs 6%). A study skills course is now routinely provided in conjunction with individual student counselling, where necessary, to facilitate student success in this Medical School.