Case-based conference in integrative medicine: A pilot project to enhance learning and exchange of different medical concepts

Abstract

Background Since several years there is an ongoing discussion within the German medical community about understanding of and collaboration between the different medical concepts (Hibbeler 2006; Willich et al. 2004), aiming on the development of a patient-centered and effective integrative medical approach (Scheffer et al. 2007). A symposium in 2006 brought the different medical perspectives into a dialogue based on presented cases. The question arose how to transfer this dialogue into especially academic medical education. Aim To develop a learning format that brings students and experts of different medical concepts together, allowing reflexion and discussion on approaches, methods and therapy from the different medical perspectives. Setting, subjects and methods In 2008, four experts (conventional medicine, homoeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Anthroposophic Medicine) and voluntarily students (mainly year 3) took part in a case-based conference (CBC) at the University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany. It started with history taking of a real, present patient by all experts. The didactical course leads through several small group and plenary sessions focusing on methods and therapeutical approaches of the different medical concepts. Students could receive credits concerning the German approbation regulations. Students were given a questionnaire with 6-point Likert scale to rate the conference at the end. Results Quantitative analysis showed that students felt motivated to more deeply engage in all of the presented medical concepts including conventional medicine. Over 90% reported having received a better impression of opportunities and limitations of the different medical concepts. In total 75% felt improvement by the CBC to counsel patients concerning the different medical concepts. More than 85% of the students clearly wished that CBC in Integrative medicine should be held regularly dealing with different diseases. Conclusion A case-based conference in Integrative Medicine seems to be an adequate course to bring integrative medicine into the academic teaching and learning context. It offers students deeper insights in different medical concepts and seems to motivate further student's engagement.