"Basic Medical Skills" - Evaluation of a primary care oriented course concept within the new medical curriculum in Germany

Background and objective: To increase the practical orientation of medical student education in Germany, we have introduced a new mandatory course into the 3rd study year. This course combines doctor-patient communication training sessions with practical skills such as taking blood, changing dressin...

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Main Authors: Fischer, Thomas, Chenot, Jean-François, Kleiber, Christina, Kochen, Michael M., Simmenroth-Nayda, Anne, Staats, Hermann, Herrmann-Lingen, Christoph
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House 2005-08-01
Series:GMS Zeitschrift für Medizinische Ausbildung
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.egms.de/static/en/journals/zma/2005-22/zma000059.shtml
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author Fischer, Thomas
Chenot, Jean-François
Kleiber, Christina
Kochen, Michael M.
Simmenroth-Nayda, Anne
Staats, Hermann
Herrmann-Lingen, Christoph
author_facet Fischer, Thomas
Chenot, Jean-François
Kleiber, Christina
Kochen, Michael M.
Simmenroth-Nayda, Anne
Staats, Hermann
Herrmann-Lingen, Christoph
author_sort Fischer, Thomas
collection DOAJ
description Background and objective: To increase the practical orientation of medical student education in Germany, we have introduced a new mandatory course into the 3rd study year. This course combines doctor-patient communication training sessions with practical skills such as taking blood, changing dressings, etc. The primary care point of view to these topics was emphasized. The study describes the course and an evaluation of its effects on basic medical skills.Methods: Learning progress was measured using an anonymous self-evaluation questionnaire. Students graded their own competence in each individual course element using a 1-6 point scale (1='excellent' to 6='insufficient'). To objectify the learning process with regards to both practical skills and communicative competence we performed an "Objective Structured Clinical Examination" (OSCE).Results: Complete data are available from 154 of the 193 students participating in the course (average age 23.7 ±2.7 years). With regards to their competence in taking a case history, participants rated themselves with an average score of 3.99 before the course and an improved average score of 2.42 afterwards (P<0.0001). Students gave themselves credit for definite improvement in practical skills as well. Neither gender, age nor earlier medical training had any effect of the self-evaluation. Results of self-reported questionnaires corresponded well with the test results of the OSCE (N=193). Female students had significantly better results in the global rating in the communicative sections of the OSCE test than their male counterparts. Overall, the general evaluation of the course (grade 1.93) and its value for later medical competence (1.97) were very high in comparison to the average values for medical seminars at this university.Conclusion: We found high effects on clinical competence both in self-reported evaluations of the course and in the OSCE. A longitudinal study is under way in order to investigate to what extent this seminar will lead to long-term improvement of competence. The "gender bias" found in communication skills needs to be confirmed in pre/post investigations and long-term effects in order to find out, if male students need specific help in improving their communication skills.
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spelling doaj.art-f9ae7a451650437fb924b2d67280475c2022-12-22T01:43:59ZdeuGerman Medical Science GMS Publishing HouseGMS Zeitschrift für Medizinische Ausbildung1860-74461860-35722005-08-01223Doc59"Basic Medical Skills" - Evaluation of a primary care oriented course concept within the new medical curriculum in GermanyFischer, ThomasChenot, Jean-FrançoisKleiber, ChristinaKochen, Michael M.Simmenroth-Nayda, AnneStaats, HermannHerrmann-Lingen, ChristophBackground and objective: To increase the practical orientation of medical student education in Germany, we have introduced a new mandatory course into the 3rd study year. This course combines doctor-patient communication training sessions with practical skills such as taking blood, changing dressings, etc. The primary care point of view to these topics was emphasized. The study describes the course and an evaluation of its effects on basic medical skills.Methods: Learning progress was measured using an anonymous self-evaluation questionnaire. Students graded their own competence in each individual course element using a 1-6 point scale (1='excellent' to 6='insufficient'). To objectify the learning process with regards to both practical skills and communicative competence we performed an "Objective Structured Clinical Examination" (OSCE).Results: Complete data are available from 154 of the 193 students participating in the course (average age 23.7 ±2.7 years). With regards to their competence in taking a case history, participants rated themselves with an average score of 3.99 before the course and an improved average score of 2.42 afterwards (P<0.0001). Students gave themselves credit for definite improvement in practical skills as well. Neither gender, age nor earlier medical training had any effect of the self-evaluation. Results of self-reported questionnaires corresponded well with the test results of the OSCE (N=193). Female students had significantly better results in the global rating in the communicative sections of the OSCE test than their male counterparts. Overall, the general evaluation of the course (grade 1.93) and its value for later medical competence (1.97) were very high in comparison to the average values for medical seminars at this university.Conclusion: We found high effects on clinical competence both in self-reported evaluations of the course and in the OSCE. A longitudinal study is under way in order to investigate to what extent this seminar will lead to long-term improvement of competence. The "gender bias" found in communication skills needs to be confirmed in pre/post investigations and long-term effects in order to find out, if male students need specific help in improving their communication skills.http://www.egms.de/static/en/journals/zma/2005-22/zma000059.shtmldoctor-patient-communicationcommunication trainingcore clinical skills“Objective Structured Clinical Examination“ (OSCE)gender bias
spellingShingle Fischer, Thomas
Chenot, Jean-François
Kleiber, Christina
Kochen, Michael M.
Simmenroth-Nayda, Anne
Staats, Hermann
Herrmann-Lingen, Christoph
"Basic Medical Skills" - Evaluation of a primary care oriented course concept within the new medical curriculum in Germany
GMS Zeitschrift für Medizinische Ausbildung
doctor-patient-communication
communication training
core clinical skills
“Objective Structured Clinical Examination“ (OSCE)
gender bias
title "Basic Medical Skills" - Evaluation of a primary care oriented course concept within the new medical curriculum in Germany
title_full "Basic Medical Skills" - Evaluation of a primary care oriented course concept within the new medical curriculum in Germany
title_fullStr "Basic Medical Skills" - Evaluation of a primary care oriented course concept within the new medical curriculum in Germany
title_full_unstemmed "Basic Medical Skills" - Evaluation of a primary care oriented course concept within the new medical curriculum in Germany
title_short "Basic Medical Skills" - Evaluation of a primary care oriented course concept within the new medical curriculum in Germany
title_sort basic medical skills evaluation of a primary care oriented course concept within the new medical curriculum in germany
topic doctor-patient-communication
communication training
core clinical skills
“Objective Structured Clinical Examination“ (OSCE)
gender bias
url http://www.egms.de/static/en/journals/zma/2005-22/zma000059.shtml
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