Skills Training For Medical Students Research Articles

Emotion skills training for medical students: a systematic review

To identify emotion skills training methods and outcomes using a systematic review of medical student curricula studies. We searched the English language literature listed in the PubMed, Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), PsycINFO and Web of Science databases, from 1980 to the present, using a comprehensive list of emotion skills keywords and subsequent hand searches. A total of 828 articles were initially identified. A manual search yielded 161 articles on broadly defined emotion skills educational programmes for medical students. A more stringent review and hand search of reference lists yielded a final 26 articles that included 'other-directed' emotion skills (i.e. cognitive and behavioural skills intended to manage the emotions of others), a description of the training programme, and assessment data. Emotion skills courses varied by total number of contact hours (2-64 hours), session frequency (from 1 session per day to 1 session every 6 months), duration (2 weeks to 2 years), pedagogy, patients targeted and educational outcomes. Student evaluation data were positive. Fifteen of 26 studies used objective emotion skills measures. Only 6/26 studies included a control or comparison condition and 5/26 used a randomised, controlled trial (RCT) design. All 5 RCTs showed positive outcomes with modest improvements in emotion communication skills, empathy, use of emotion words, supportive behaviours and enriched patient understanding. The heterogeneity of emotion skills curricular studies makes direct comparisons difficult. However, all controlled trials showed positive outcomes, suggesting the importance and effectiveness of 'other-directed' emotion skills training. No specific recommendations about curricular amount and frequency, timing and pedagogy can be made.

Nursing faculty teaching basic skills to medical students

Medical education often uses a ‘see one, do one, teach one’ approach to teaching basic skills, whereas nursing education uses a more intense, competency based approach. Many nursing faculty become experts in teaching skills; however, there is little literature evaluating medical student skills training led by nursing faculty. The purpose of this paper is to describe and report initial evaluation data on an innovative teaching strategy using nursing faculty to teach specific skills to medical students. Nursing faculty designed a hands-on four hour clinical skills training laboratory for medical students. All (176) medical students completed and evaluated this skills laboratory and their own preparation for these skills. Medical students felt the laboratory was outstanding or good (94%), the content was at an appropriate level (94%) and the relevance was high or medium (96%). Medical students felt more prepared to perform the skills after completing the skills laboratory than before, and when compared to previous medical students without the skills laboratory. Many medical students commented positively about the nursing faculty. Nursing faculty teaching specific skills to medical students is acceptable and effective and provides medical students with positive exposure to nurses as experts.

Acquisition of surgical skills: A randomized trial of didactic, videotape, and computer-based training

Background: Although computer-based training (CBT) can enhance didactic instruction, few studies have assessed the efficacy of CBT for basic surgical skills training. This study compares CBT with traditional methods of basic surgical skills training. Methods: Sixty-nine naive medical students were randomized into 3 treatment groups for basic surgical skills instruction: didactic, videotape, or CBT. All instructional material contained the same pictures, text, and audio. With use of a multiple-choice question examination and a series of performance stations, students were objectively assessed before, immediately after, and 1 month after skills instruction. Raters were blinded to treatment modality during the follow-up evaluation. Results: There were no significant differences among the groups before treatment. After treatment, the didactic group scored higher on the multiple-choice question examination. In contrast, the videotape and CBT groups demonstrated statistically significant ( P < .01) enhancement of technical skills compared with the didactic group. After 1 month, a calculated performance quotient revealed statistically significant ( P < .01) improvement only in the CBT group. The amount of time students spent practicing their skills was not significantly different among the groups. Conclusions: CBT is as effective as, and possibly more efficient, than traditional methods of basic surgical skills training for medical students. (Surgery 1999;126:330-6.)

Acquisition of surgical skills: A randomized trial of didactic, videotape, and computer-based training

Background: Although computer-based training (CBT) can enhance didactic instruction, few studies have assessed the efficacy of CBT for basic surgical skills training. This study compares CBT with traditional methods of basic surgical skills training. Methods: Sixty-nine naive medical students were randomized into 3 treatment groups for basic surgical skills instruction: didactic, videotape, or CBT. All instructional material contained the same pictures, text, and audio. With use of a multiple-choice question examination and a series of performance stations, students were objectively assessed before, immediately after, and 1 month after skills instruction. Raters were blinded to treatment modality during the follow-up evaluation. Results: There were no significant differences among the groups before treatment. After treatment, the didactic group scored higher on the multiple-choice question examination. In contrast, the videotape and CBT groups demonstrated statistically significant (P < .01) enhancement of technical skills compared with the didactic group. After 1 month, a calculated performance quotient revealed statistically significant (P < .01) improvement only in the CBT group. The amount of time students spent practicing their skills was not significantly different among the groups. Conclusions: CBT is as effective as, and possibly more efficient, than traditional methods of basic surgical skills training for medical students. (Surgery 1999;126:330-6.)

Communication skills training for medical students: an integrated approach.

Skills of communication are not easily taught to medical students. Three main clinical departments (general practice, medicine and mental health) of the Medical Faculty of the Queen's University, Belfast, introduced an integrated course in January 1988 to teach the basic principles. The course is held at the beginning of clinical training and is an integral part of the introductory clinical course. It was introduced in response to the Report of a Working Party of the Education Committee of the General Medical Council (1987) which advocated the need for improved training in history-taking and communication. It is a 12-week course and every Monday and Friday afternoon from 1400 to 1700 hours 12 students are seconded from ward work, four to the Department of Medicine, four to the Department of General Practice and four to the Department of Mental Health. Hand-outs about information to be obtained and interview style are standardized and the principles to be followed are clearly defined in an aide-mémoire. Staff from the Departments of General Practice and Mental Health experienced in teaching communication by videotape feedback and analysis of consultations prepared 12 tutors for their role and responsibilities. Procedures to be followed were carefully explained to all students beforehand. General practice and psychiatry traditionally have established teaching programmes in communication but the inclusion of the Department of Medicine has made a significant impact. Students have come to realize that the taking of a good history demands as much skill as the physical examination of the patient and is an important aspect of any clinical assessment.