Evaluating Methods of Reinforcing the Clinical Clerkship

Abstract

This study evaluated the meaning of the clinical clerkship through in-depth interviews with students who had experienced a clinical clerkship. The clinical clerkship is one of the most important steps in the curriculum for becoming a doctor. While students perform actual clinical practice, the experience also reinforces a great deal of medical knowledge and competence as a reserve doctor. However, departments that operate inefficiently have caused some problems. Therefore, this study analyzed the data from interviews of 25 students who finished the clinical clerkship in terms of the meaning of the clinical clerkship, the attitude of the students toward work in clinical practice, the attitude of professors toward the clinical clerkship, benefits, and drawbacks. Comments are feedback from a students experience in the clinical clerkship, and they may be an important resource illuminating the current status of clinical practice. This study also discusses how to run an effective clinical clerkship by checking in with students on the problems they face in clinical practice.