Methods of teaching medicine using cases.

One form of experiential learning is the case study. It may have many formats: the structured bedside case; patient management problems; extended case studies; clinico-pathological conferences; computerized or video-disc case studies; and classroom electronic display of student responses. There are few randomized controlled trials comparing teaching by the case method with lectures, and none of the educational trials have adequate power. Researchers need to include biostatisticians and psychometricians in their research teams if the case method of teaching in medicine is to be adequately tested.