Dataset Information

Retention of knowledge and perceived relevance of basic sciences in an integrated case-based learning (CBL) curriculum.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Knowledge and understanding of basic biomedical sciences remain essential to medical practice, particularly when faced with the continual advancement of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Evidence suggests, however, that retention tends to atrophy across the span of an average medical course and into the early postgraduate years, as preoccupation with clinical medicine predominates. We postulated that perceived relevance demonstrated through applicability to clinical situations may assist in retention of basic science knowledge. METHODS: To test this hypothesis in our own medical student cohort, we administered a paper-based 50 MCQ assessment to a sample of students from Years 2 through 5. Covariates pertaining to demographics, prior educational experience, and the perceived clinical relevance of each question were also collected. RESULTS: A total of 232 students (Years 2-5, response rate 50%) undertook the assessment task. This sample had comparable demographic and performance characteristics to the whole medical school cohort. In general, discipline-specific and overall scores were better for students in the latter years of the course compared to those in Year 2; male students and domestic students tended to perform better than their respective counterparts in certain disciplines. In the clinical years, perceived clinical relevance was significantly and positively correlated with item performance. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that perceived clinical relevance is a contributing factor to the retention of basic science knowledge and behoves curriculum planners to make clinical relevance a more explicit component of applied science teaching throughout the medical course.

SUBMITTER: Malau-Aduli BS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3851808 | biostudies-other | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Retention of knowledge and perceived relevance of basic sciences in an integrated case-based learning (CBL) curriculum.

Malau-Aduli Bunmi S BS Lee Adrian Ys AY Cooling Nick N Catchpole Marianne M Jose Matthew M Turner Richard R

BMC medical education 20131008

<h4>Background</h4>Knowledge and understanding of basic biomedical sciences remain essential to medical practice, particularly when faced with the continual advancement of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Evidence suggests, however, that retention tends to atrophy across the span of an average medical course and into the early postgraduate years, as preoccupation with clinical medicine predominates. We postulated that perceived relevance demonstrated through applicability to clinical situa ...[more]

PMID: 24099045

Similar Datasets

Project description:Retention of resuscitation skills is usually assessed at a predefined moment, which enables participants to prepare themselves, possibly introducing bias. In this multicenter study, we evaluated the retention of knowledge and skills in pediatric basic life support (PBLS) amongst 58 pediatricians and pediatric residents with an unannounced examination. Practical PBLS skills were assessed with a validated scoring instrument, theoretical knowledge with a 10-item multiple-choice test (MCQ). Participants self-assessed their PBLS capabilities using five-point Likert scales. Background data were collected with a questionnaire. Of our participants, 21% passed the practical PBLS exam: 29% failed on compressions/ventilations, 31% on other parts of the algorithm, 19% on both. Sixty-nine percent passed the theoretical test. Participants who more recently completed a PBLS course performed significantly better on the MCQ (p = 0.03). This association was less clear-cut for performance on the practical exam (p = 0.11). Older, attending pediatricians with more years of experience in pediatrics performed less well than their younger colleagues (p < 0.05). Fifty-one percent of the participants considered themselves competent in PBLS. No correlation was found between self-assessed PBLS capabilities and actual performance on the practical exam (p = 0.25).ConclusionRetention of PBLS skills appears to be poor amongst pediatricians and residents, whereas PBLS knowledge is retained somewhat better. What is Known: • Pediatricians and pediatric residents are not always competent in pediatric basic life support (PBLS) in daily practice. Poor retention of skills supposedly accounts for this incompetence. Without regular exposure, resuscitation skills usually deteriorate within 3 to 6 months after training. • Examination of resuscitation skills usually takes place after training. Also, in most studies evaluating retention of skills, participants are tested at a predefined moment. Inasmuch as participants are able to prepare themselves, these assessments do not reflect the ad hoc resuscitation capabilities of pediatricians and residents. What is New: • In this study, pediatricians and pediatric residents had to complete an unannounced PBLS exam at variable time intervals from last certification. Retention of PBLS skills was rather poor (pass rate 21%). • The PBLS skills of older, attending pediatricians with many working years in pediatrics appeared to be inferior to those of their younger colleagues.

Project description:BackgroundMedical students are required to retain vast amounts of medical knowledge on the path to becoming physicians. To address this challenge, multimedia Web-based learning resources have been developed to supplement traditional text-based materials. The Picmonic(®) Learning System (PLS; Picmonic, Phoenix, AZ, USA) is a novel multimedia Web-based learning platform that delivers audiovisual mnemonics designed to improve memory retention of medical sciences.MethodsA single-center, randomized, subject-blinded, controlled study was conducted to compare the PLS with traditional text-based material for retention of medical science topics. Subjects were randomly assigned to use two different types of study materials covering several diseases. Subjects randomly assigned to the PLS group were given audiovisual mnemonics along with text-based materials, whereas subjects in the control group were given the same text-based materials with key terms highlighted. The primary endpoints were the differences in performance on immediate, 1 week, and 1 month delayed free-recall and paired-matching tests. The secondary endpoints were the difference in performance on a 1 week delayed multiple-choice test and self-reported satisfaction with the study materials. Differences were calculated using unpaired two-tailed t-tests.ResultsPLS group subjects demonstrated improvements of 65%, 161%, and 208% compared with control group subjects on free-recall tests conducted immediately, 1 week, and 1 month after study of materials, respectively. The results of performance on paired-matching tests showed an improvement of up to 331% for PLS group subjects. PLS group subjects also performed 55% greater than control group subjects on a 1 week delayed multiple choice test requiring higher-order thinking. The differences in test performance between the PLS group subjects and the control group subjects were statistically significant (P<0.001), and the PLS group subjects reported higher overall satisfaction with the material.ConclusionThe data of this pilot site demonstrate marked improvements in the retention of disease topics when using the PLS compared with traditional text-based materials. The use of the PLS in medical education is supported.

Project description:ObjectiveCase-based collaborative learning (CBCL) models that incorporate learner-guided content review, structured preparatory assessment, and interactive case-based classroom sessions have been shown to promote content mastery among medical students. However, limited research has explored the viability of CBCL in resident populations, particularly in dermatology. We therefore sought to investigate the impact of a CBCL curriculum covering complex medical dermatology topics on resident knowledge and learning preferences.MethodsThis prospective cohort study included dermatology and combined internal medicine-dermatology resident trainees of all levels (postgraduate years 2-5) in a single residency program in Boston, Massachusetts. Four CBCL sessions covering complex medical dermatology topics were delivered to program residents between March and April 2019. Preparatory material for each session included a 20-minute concept video and a multiple-choice readiness assessment. During the sessions, residents applied their nascent understanding to newly introduced clinical vignettes and cases covering the preassigned materials. To assess knowledge and learner preferences, 15-question surveys were administered before and immediately after curriculum delivery. Changes in knowledge and learner preferences were determined using Student t tests to compare means and χ2 tests to compare proportions.ResultsOf the 30 residents, 29 (96.7%) completed the precurriculum survey and 17 (56.7%) completed the postcurriculum survey. Mean content scores improved significantly (p < .01) from presession (x̅ 5.70; σ 1.88) to postsession (x̅ 9.71; σ 1.88). The majority of respondents indicated a preference for future CBCL sessions, with learning preferences remaining stable over time.ConclusionIn this single-center prospective cohort study, resident knowledge improved significantly after CBCL curriculum delivery. Most resident learners viewed the curriculum as worthwhile and preferred it to traditional lecture-based didactics. Collectively, our findings suggest that CBCL models can be feasibly implemented and durably convey complex content to resident learners.

Project description:Background:Contraception is an essential preventive service for all women. However, the literature suggests that internal medicine residents have low levels of confidence and knowledge of contraceptive care. Objective:We designed and implemented a novel contraception curriculum promoting active, collaborative learning. We sought to evaluate whether this curriculum improved internal medicine resident knowledge of and comfort with contraceptive care through the administration of pre-/post-surveys. Methods:Our curriculum was delivered in a two-hour session as part of the mandatory ambulatory curriculum for internal medicine interns at our institution in the academic year 2017-2018. Interns were provided with select online resources and two smartphone applications at the beginning of the session, which they then used in case-based small group work. Small group work was followed by a large group case review, co-facilitated by OB/GYN and internal medicine faculty. Results:Thirty-eight participants completed surveys assessing knowledge of and comfort with contraceptive care immediately before and after the curriculum; 20 participants completed surveys assessing the same domains 4-6 months after the curriculum. Data from surveys administered immediately post-curriculum demonstrated significant improvements in knowledge about and comfort with counseling about, assessing medical eligibility for, and initiating multiple forms of contraception. Many of these improvements in knowledge and comfort were maintained on follow-up surveys 4-6 months following the curriculum. Conclusion:Our case-based curriculum with integrated smartphone applications resulted in significant improvements in internal medicine resident knowledge of and comfort with the key skills of contraceptive care. In contrast to active, collaborative learning methodologies such as the flipped classroom, our methodology supports active, collaborative learning without requiring advance learner preparation, and is thus well suited to the time constraints of the graduate medical education setting. Our methodology is readily translatable to other clinical topics and residency curricula.

Dataset Information

Retention of knowledge and perceived relevance of basic sciences in an integrated case-based learning (CBL) curriculum.

Publications

Retention of knowledge and perceived relevance of basic sciences in an integrated case-based learning (CBL) curriculum.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets