Effectiveness of a quality improvement curriculum for medical students
Introduction: As health systems find ways to improve quality of care, medical training programs are finding opportunities to prepare learners on principles of quality improvement (QI). The impact of QI curricula for medical students as measured by student learning is not well delineated. The aim of...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2015-05-01
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Series: | Medical Education Online |
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Online Access: | http://med-ed-online.net/index.php/meo/article/view/27133/pdf_29 |
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author | Kimberly M. Tartaglia Curt Walker |
author_facet | Kimberly M. Tartaglia Curt Walker |
author_sort | Kimberly M. Tartaglia |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Introduction: As health systems find ways to improve quality of care, medical training programs are finding opportunities to prepare learners on principles of quality improvement (QI). The impact of QI curricula for medical students as measured by student learning is not well delineated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a QI curriculum for senior medical students as measured by student knowledge and skills. Methods: This study was an observational study that involved a self-assessment and post-test Quality Improvement Knowledge Application Tool (QIKAT) for intervention and control students. A QI curriculum consisting of online modules, live discussions, independent readings and reflective writing, and participation in a mentored QI project was offered to fourth-year medical students completing an honor's elective (intervention group). Senior medical students who received the standard QI curriculum only were recruited as controls. Results: A total of 22 intervention students and 12 control students completed the self-assessment and QIKAT. At baseline, there was no difference between groups in self-reported prior exposure to QI principles. Students in the intervention group reported more comfort with their skills in QI overall and in 9 of the 12 domains (p<0.05). Additionally, intervention students performed better in each of the three case scenarios (p<0.01). Discussion: A brief QI curriculum for senior medical students results in improved comfort and knowledge with QI principles. The strengths of our curriculum include effective use of classroom time and faculty mentorship with reliance on pre-existing online modules and written resources. Additionally, the curriculum is easily expandable to larger groups of students and transferable to other institutions. |
first_indexed | 2024-12-11T19:38:03Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-05f101cd185447c49ae0108c78f1b891 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1087-2981 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-11T19:38:03Z |
publishDate | 2015-05-01 |
publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
record_format | Article |
series | Medical Education Online |
spelling | doaj.art-05f101cd185447c49ae0108c78f1b8912022-12-22T00:53:05ZengTaylor & Francis GroupMedical Education Online1087-29812015-05-012001510.3402/meo.v20.2713327133Effectiveness of a quality improvement curriculum for medical studentsKimberly M. Tartaglia0Curt Walker1Department of Internal Medicine, Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USADepartment of Internal Medicine, Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USAIntroduction: As health systems find ways to improve quality of care, medical training programs are finding opportunities to prepare learners on principles of quality improvement (QI). The impact of QI curricula for medical students as measured by student learning is not well delineated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a QI curriculum for senior medical students as measured by student knowledge and skills. Methods: This study was an observational study that involved a self-assessment and post-test Quality Improvement Knowledge Application Tool (QIKAT) for intervention and control students. A QI curriculum consisting of online modules, live discussions, independent readings and reflective writing, and participation in a mentored QI project was offered to fourth-year medical students completing an honor's elective (intervention group). Senior medical students who received the standard QI curriculum only were recruited as controls. Results: A total of 22 intervention students and 12 control students completed the self-assessment and QIKAT. At baseline, there was no difference between groups in self-reported prior exposure to QI principles. Students in the intervention group reported more comfort with their skills in QI overall and in 9 of the 12 domains (p<0.05). Additionally, intervention students performed better in each of the three case scenarios (p<0.01). Discussion: A brief QI curriculum for senior medical students results in improved comfort and knowledge with QI principles. The strengths of our curriculum include effective use of classroom time and faculty mentorship with reliance on pre-existing online modules and written resources. Additionally, the curriculum is easily expandable to larger groups of students and transferable to other institutions.http://med-ed-online.net/index.php/meo/article/view/27133/pdf_29medical education-systems-based practicemedical education-practice-based learningquality improvement |
spellingShingle | Kimberly M. Tartaglia Curt Walker Effectiveness of a quality improvement curriculum for medical students Medical Education Online medical education-systems-based practice medical education-practice-based learning quality improvement |
title | Effectiveness of a quality improvement curriculum for medical students |
title_full | Effectiveness of a quality improvement curriculum for medical students |
title_fullStr | Effectiveness of a quality improvement curriculum for medical students |
title_full_unstemmed | Effectiveness of a quality improvement curriculum for medical students |
title_short | Effectiveness of a quality improvement curriculum for medical students |
title_sort | effectiveness of a quality improvement curriculum for medical students |
topic | medical education-systems-based practice medical education-practice-based learning quality improvement |
url | http://med-ed-online.net/index.php/meo/article/view/27133/pdf_29 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT kimberlymtartaglia effectivenessofaqualityimprovementcurriculumformedicalstudents AT curtwalker effectivenessofaqualityimprovementcurriculumformedicalstudents |