The effect of breast clinic participation on the education of third-year medical students.

Abstract

Traditional methods of teaching concepts of breast disease to medical students have included didactic lectures, patient interviews and examinations in the hospital, and patient-directed rounds with housestaff and attendings. From 1980 to 1987, third-year students at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine participated in these educational experiences and were tested at the conclusion of the eight-week surgical core rotation, utilizing written and oral examinations. Beginning in July 1987, students began participating in a defined weekly Diagnostic Breast Clinic which included in-depth instruction in patient examination techniques, mammographic interpretation, and treatment planning. Results of oral and written examinations, specifically regarding knowledge of breast cancer, were compared between the early and later periods. Significantly improved performance was noted in students exposed to a defined breast clinic experience and strongly supports the integration of specific cancer clinic experiences in undergraduate medical education.