Eishu Nango1, Yujiro Tanaka. 1. Department of General Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan. sulzberger@amy.hi-ho.ne.jp
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The effect of multidisciplinary education on clinical decision making by medical students is not well known. METHODS:Twenty of fourth, fifth or sixth year medical students were randomly assigned to multidisciplinary groups (MultiG, n = 7) with two medical, pharmacy and nursing students or medical student groups (MedG, n = 10) with six medical students only and given a two-day PBL program using evidence-based medicine (EBM) methodology. The main outcome measure is clinical decision making by medical students for the case, measured by a 100 mm visual analog scale (VAS). Additional patient information requested and self-evaluation of the PBL program were also measured. RESULTS: Correct answers to assess clinical epidemiology knowledge increased significantly in both groups (4.1 to 9.9 points in MultiG, p < 0.001: 3.6 to 9.7 points in MedG, p = 0.002), while scores at baseline and post-program were not significantly different. The number of additional patient information cards requested was not significantly different (p = 0.10). After the program, the VAS for clinical decision making was significantly different (54 mm and 89 mm, p = 0.013), although preprogram values for both groups were similar. CONCLUSION: Pharmacy and nursing students may have potential to change the clinical decision making by medical students.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: The effect of multidisciplinary education on clinical decision making by medical students is not well known. METHODS: Twenty of fourth, fifth or sixth year medical students were randomly assigned to multidisciplinary groups (MultiG, n = 7) with two medical, pharmacy and nursing students or medical student groups (MedG, n = 10) with six medical students only and given a two-day PBL program using evidence-based medicine (EBM) methodology. The main outcome measure is clinical decision making by medical students for the case, measured by a 100 mm visual analog scale (VAS). Additional patient information requested and self-evaluation of the PBL program were also measured. RESULTS: Correct answers to assess clinical epidemiology knowledge increased significantly in both groups (4.1 to 9.9 points in MultiG, p < 0.001: 3.6 to 9.7 points in MedG, p = 0.002), while scores at baseline and post-program were not significantly different. The number of additional patient information cards requested was not significantly different (p = 0.10). After the program, the VAS for clinical decision making was significantly different (54 mm and 89 mm, p = 0.013), although preprogram values for both groups were similar. CONCLUSION: Pharmacy and nursing students may have potential to change the clinical decision making by medical students.
Authors: Ben Darlow; Karen Coleman; Eileen McKinlay; Sarah Donovan; Louise Beckingsale; Ben Gray; Hazel Neser; Meredith Perry; James Stanley; Sue Pullon Journal: BMC Med Educ Date: 2015-06-04 Impact factor: 2.463