Abstract

Is it possible to prepare medical students for clinical years using a laboratory based education programme?

Author(s): Claire Dunstan, Aidan Byrne

Introduction: The new Cardiff/Swansea Graduate Entry programme has provided a unique opportunity to compare the preparation of students for clinical training by comparing an integrated, case based course with a more traditional course. In particular, we were interested in the effect of the students having a nine-week period of clinical placement compared to a full clinical year

Methods: We administered a qualitative questionnaire to an entire cohort of students. Data were analysed using a grounded theory approach.

Results: Despite being the first cohort of a new course, students described the learning environment in the first two years as high quality. They felt well prepared for their clinical years despite the reduced direct clinical exposure.

Discussion: Data suggests that laboratory based clinical skills teaching is as effective as the traditional ward based teaching. Students found they were well prepared for clinical placements. Concerns that they would have problems in the clinical environment were largely unfounded. Problems the students encountered were mainly administrative. Suggestions included a clinical induction programme as suggested elsewhere in the literature. We confirmed that the transition to the clinical environment can be challenging, and that medical students continue to have difficulty adapting to ward based teaching.