Objective To study the application of virtual reality bronchoscopy stimulation in novice trainees. Methods Four novice bronchoscopists entered the training programby using a VR bronchoscopy in the clinical skill center. After the program, the dexterity, speed, and accuracy of all the four doctors were tested using the virtual simulation models. Results were compared to four skilled physicians as control group who had performed at least 50 bronchoscopies. Before-training and after-training test scores were compared using paired t tests. For comparisons between after-training novice and skilled physician scores, unpaired twosample t tests were used. Results All of the four trainees finished the training program. The novices significantly improved their dexterity, speed and accuracy. The percentage of observed segments increased from ( 74. 0 ±5. 1) % to ( 89. 3 ±4. 0) % . The number of contacts with the bronchial wall decreased from 87. 5 ±13. 2 to 30. 5 ±9. 3, and total time spent shortened from ( 700. 8 ±56. 6) s to ( 607. 0 ±17. 8) s. There were no statistically significant differences between novice accuracy ( the percentage of observed segments) after training and skilled physician accuracy [ ( 89. 3 ±4. 0) % vs ( 91. 3 ±3. 0) % , P = 0. 456] . Conclusion Practice using a virtual bronchoscopy simulator help novice trainees to attain a level of skill at performing diagnostic bronchoscopy, and it might play an important role in the training of chest physicians.
Objective To assess the effectiveness of the course of “Being a Friend with Patients”. Methods There were three parts in this course: (1) To experience what the empathy was, by counseling activities; (2) To accompany patients in hospital; (3) To share the experience after accompanying. There were 118 participants who were freshmen at the end of 2005. Results and Conclusions According to feedback from the students, they understand empathy and how the patients feel after the counseling. The course is accepted by all students. It may help students to be more attentive to and concerned about their patients, and to provied help for them.
Objective To study the current situation of doctor-patient communication education for medical undergraduates, and meanwhile to analyze the students’ satisfactory degree to communication education and its influencing factors, so as to provide sound suggestions to promote the students’ clinical communication abilities. Methods Using simple sampling, 50% of the students who majored in clinical medicine in grade 2006-2009 in West China Medical School of Sichuan University were selected as respondents. The investigation was conducted by face to face talk with a self-designed questionnaire. The data were input using EpiData 3.0 software and the results were analyzed by SPSS 13.0 software. Results A total of 450 questionnaires were distributed, and 404 were validly retrieved (89.78%). Among the respondents, 74.3% of them were satisfied with the current situation of doctor-patient communication education; 75.7% of them begun to know doctor-patient communication education since the stage of learning basic knowledge; 49.8% of them were trained by means of problem-based-learning (PBL); and 65.5% of them were trained with auxiliary standardized patient (SP). “Grade”, “Gender”, “SP used” and “PBL used” were the main factors affecting the satisfactory degree to current doctor-patient communication education (P=0.029, 0.023, 0.012, and 0.029, respectively). Conclusion The medical undergraduates’ satisfactory degree to current doctor-patient communication education is generally high, but it is also affected by various factors. Although doctor-patient communication education has started early, the training system is still problematic and the teaching resources coverage is limited. So in order to make a further systematic, standardized, overall designed education for students’ cognition and communication skills, the medical colleges should open integrated doctor-patient communication curriculum that combines with both PBL and SP auxiliary teaching methods, and covers all the undergraduate learning stage.
Objective To evaluate the role that problem based learning (PBL) teaching plays in the education of doctors. Methods A total of 240 7-year students who entered the China Medical University in Shenyang in 2004 were divided into two groups: one group used PBL teaching model while the second group used a traditional teaching model. There were 120 students in each group. At the end of the teaching, a questionnaire on PBL teaching model was distributed to the both groups. We organized and classified answers to the questionnaire and conducted statistical analyses. Results Problem based learning is a model for education in which students dominate the course, question the case, look for evidence, participate in the group discussion and reach resolution. This emphasizes the process of learning and the training of student abilities, instead of the teaching of knowledge only. PBL is more effective at meeting the requirements of the global minimum essential requirements in medical education (GMER). Conclusions PBL teaching plays an important role in the training of doctors
The teaching of Clinical Pharmacology plays a very important role in medical education. In this article, we introduce our exploration and practice in Clinical Pharmacology course in West China Hospital of Sichuan University, which combines Good Clinical Practice with teaching methods such as problem-based learning and case-based learning. Furthermore, we analyze the actual effects in optimizing teaching content, renewing teaching mode, and improving teachers’ teaching ability, etc. We hope this article could provide new ideas for the teaching reform of undergraduate Clinical Pharmacology course.
Objective To assess the effect of a new educational model for evidence-based medicine (EBM), which is called "2+N" model with the main characteristic of classroom teaching plus volunteer practice. Methods Questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data. Results There were averagely 39 volunteers participated in this activity per year, with an increasing trend. Most of them were sophomore and junior undergraduates from different specialties in medical filed. All participates acquired a better understanding of EBM knowledge; more than 60% of them could handle data searching, collecting and assessing by themselves in the end of the activity. Conclusion Our five years’ experience of EBM education practice for medical students suggested that the new educational model has a promising future.
Objective To evaluate the quality of undergraduate medical education so as to provide useful and effective feedback information for medical schools and to extend GMER (Global Minimum Essential Requirements in Medical Education) standard. Methods Through questionnaires, 205 resident doctors self-evaluated their abilities or qualities based on GMER standard. The unconditioned logistic regression model was used for data analysis. Results Graduates from undergraduate medical programs mastered the abilities or qualities required in 4 GMER domains i.e. “professional values, attitudes, behaviors and ethics”, “clinical skills”, “communication skills”, and “scientific foundation of medicine”. But the abilities or qualities required in “information management”, “population health and health systems” as well as “critical thinking and research” domains have not been obtained. The main factors that affected the evaluation results were corresponding training to the essentials, learner’s attitude, teaching models and teaching hours. Conclusion Educational sectors should adjust curriculum design so as to help medical students master the abilities required in the 3 domains stated above. Medical schools should conduct some educational research to formulate the most beneficial teaching methods, and import advanced ones to raise the quality of medical education in China.