Application of the Hybrid CBL+TBL Method in Internal Medicine Teaching Practice of TCM Universities

Yuan Fang,Qian Lin,Min Xiao,Lihong Nie,Nan Guo,Xuebing Zhang,Lijie Liu,Shaodan Tian,Mei Wang

doi:10.11648/j.ijcm.20210503.12

Abstract

Internal medicine plays a critical role in the curriculum system of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) universities, which is the main course in TCM colleges and the professional knowledge must be mastered by medical students. However, due to the immense contents and concepts in internal medicine, the traditional lecture-based learning (LBL) led to dissatisfactory education effects. The purpose of the study is to explore the application of hybrid case-based learning (CBL) + team-based learning (TBL) method in educational practice of internal medicine in TCM universities. The undergraduates majoring in Chinese medicine of grade 2014, 2015 and 2016 from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM) were enrolled. Students of grade 2014 were utilized as the control group, adopting traditional teaching method. Students of grade 2015 and 2016 were employed as the experimental groups, using the hybrid CBL+TBL teaching method. At the end of the internal medicine curriculum, the teaching resultant was evaluated by both theoretical test and skill assessment. The results demonstrated that experimental groups scored better than control group in both theory and clinical examinations, and the discrepancies were significant, respectively. The introduction of hybrid CBL+TBL teaching method into education of internal medicine in TCM universities promoted students’ ability of self-learning and sense of teamwork, so as improved the teaching effectiveness of clinical courses.

Highlights

Internal medicine is an important branch of clinical medicine, mainly dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of internal organ diseases, especially in adults
Students majoring in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) generally possess infirm knowledge and skill of Western medicine
The eight-year program medical students majoring in TCM of grade 2014, 2015 and 2016 from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM) were selected as the research volunteers

Summary

Introduction

Internal medicine is an important branch of clinical medicine, mainly dealing with the diagnosis and (nonsurgical) treatment of internal organ diseases, especially in adults. The goal of internal medicine education is to instruct the pathogenesis, diagnosis, examination and treatment of diseases not requiring surgery to medical students [1, 2]. Learning internal medicine well is essential for the cultivation of clinic ability and skill of a medicine student, which is the basis to become a qualified doctor. The traditional teaching method leads to boring class atmosphere and disappointing study consequence [4]. Students majoring in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) generally possess infirm knowledge and skill of Western medicine. It is compelling to explore novel teaching method of internal medicine suitable for TCM universities and undergraduates

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion