L Kay1, D Walker. 1. Musculoskeletal Unit, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To identify factors that influence medical students' perceptions of the quality of a clinical skills course; to apply these factors to the course at one hospital; to measure the effect of this change. DESIGN: Cross sectional questionnaire survey; application of identified factors; repeat questionnaire survey. SETTING: Three teaching hospitals and five district general hospitals in north east England. SUBJECTS: Third year medical students attending locomotor clinical skills courses in two consecutive years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Score awarded by students in five categories; numbers of patients seen by each student; comparisons with other clinical skills weeks. RESULTS: Response rates were 71 of 150 and 89 of 161. Factors associated with a high awarded score were: organisation of the course by a rheumatologist (p < 0.01); teaching from a rheumatologist (p < 0.01); higher number of patients seen (r = 0.76). Mean number of patients seen varied widely, from 7 per student at one hospital to 20.4 at another. Teaching hospitals scored poorly. In the second year, after making changes at one teaching hospital the mean total score improved (p < 0.01), and students saw more patients (p < 0.01). The ranking of this hospital rose from 6 to 1. The additional cost of the modified course was 640 pounds per student. CONCLUSIONS: The standard of teaching of locomotor clinical skills varies widely and can be improved by application of factors identified in this survey, although additional costs are incurred.
OBJECTIVE: To identify factors that influence medical students' perceptions of the quality of a clinical skills course; to apply these factors to the course at one hospital; to measure the effect of this change. DESIGN: Cross sectional questionnaire survey; application of identified factors; repeat questionnaire survey. SETTING: Three teaching hospitals and five district general hospitals in north east England. SUBJECTS: Third year medical students attending locomotor clinical skills courses in two consecutive years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Score awarded by students in five categories; numbers of patients seen by each student; comparisons with other clinical skills weeks. RESULTS: Response rates were 71 of 150 and 89 of 161. Factors associated with a high awarded score were: organisation of the course by a rheumatologist (p < 0.01); teaching from a rheumatologist (p < 0.01); higher number of patients seen (r = 0.76). Mean number of patients seen varied widely, from 7 per student at one hospital to 20.4 at another. Teaching hospitals scored poorly. In the second year, after making changes at one teaching hospital the mean total score improved (p < 0.01), and students saw more patients (p < 0.01). The ranking of this hospital rose from 6 to 1. The additional cost of the modified course was 640 pounds per student. CONCLUSIONS: The standard of teaching of locomotor clinical skills varies widely and can be improved by application of factors identified in this survey, although additional costs are incurred.
Authors: D L Goldenberg; J H Mason; R De Horatius; V Goldberg; S R Kaplan; H Keiser; M D Lockshin; R Rynes; J I Sandson; H R Schumacher; J Skosey Journal: Arthritis Rheum Date: 1981-12